Saturday 30 October 2021

Three Ways to Get Beautiful Lips

Associated with youthfulness and attractiveness, the shape and size of our lips can make a huge difference to our overall appearance. Unfortunately, lots of us don’t have full lips even when we’re young - and they only lose further volume as we age.



The good news is that it’s easy to augment the lips to make them more shapely and better proportioned for your face. In this article, we present three types of procedures, alongside their pros and cons, to help you decide which might be the best for you.


But first, what does the perfect pout look like?


According to research, the “ideal” lips make up about 10% of the lower third of the face, and the bottom lip should be approximately twice the size of the top one. The lips should thin out towards the corners, resulting in a 1:1 ratio. In addition, the perfect lips should have an accentuated philtrum (Cupid’s bow), and the bottom lip should be plump in the centre.  


Of course, what makes lips attractive is a matter of opinion, but the most important thing to remember when seeking lip augmentation is that the lips must be in proportion with the face. Although you might think bigger is better when it comes to lips, this is not the case. Increasing the size of your lips by more than 50% is likely to look out of proportion. Likewise, over filling the top lip will create an artificial “duckbill” appearance. 


Other factors that contribute to how youthful and attractive a person’s lips look are how defined they are, and the smoothness of the surrounding skin. The border of our lips (called the vermillion border) becomes less defined as we age, allowing lipstick to bleed over the edges. Vertical lines may also appear on the upper lip (known as perioral lines), which are further exacerbated by sun exposure and smoking.


Non-surgical and surgical lip treatments


Injectable lip fillers


Lip fillers are the quickest and most affordable way to augment lips. Fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane contain hyaluronic acid – the substance produced naturally by the body, which is responsible for nice plump lips (alongside collagen).


When injected into the lips, these soft gel fillers feel absolutely natural and move normally, with minimal potential for nodularity. Filler can be placed precisely to create the desired shape and definition. For example, placed along the vermillion border, the entire lip can look fuller and more pronounced. Meanwhile, using a small amount of dermal filler to accentuate the Cupid’s bow draws attention to the midsection of the lips and creates a poutier appearance.


Hyaluronic acid lip fillers are a temporary, non-surgical treatment. How long the results last for depends on the product used and your body’s rate of absorption. Around 6-9 months is typical, however studies show that benefits can last for a year or longer.


Pros: Instant results, affordable entry cost.


Cons: Temporary results, treatment needs repeating meaning higher costs in the long-term.


Fat grafting


Fat grafting is an alternative to hyaluronic acid that uses a patient’s own body fat as a lip filler. Fat is extracted via a gentle liposuction technique from a donor site - this might be the tummy or flanks. It’s then prepared in a centrifuge, which separates the fat from the oil, water and blood. 


The fat is injected droplet by droplet to build up volume and sculpt the shape of the lips. Fat can also be used to fill in lines around the mouth, including perioral lines and marionette lines. Other than a very small incision at the fat harvesting site, no incisions are made in or around the lips and there’s no scarring. 


As well as being completely natural, one of the key benefits of the fat transfer technique is how long it lasts. The carefully injected fat gains a blood supply, meaning it becomes permanent tissue (although patients will experience some initial reabsorption of fat). If a patient desires a plumper effect after the first treatment, a second injection of fat can be carried out at a later date to increase ‘take’.


Fat extraction and grafting is usually performed under local anaesthesia with light sedation. Patients can go home the same day with little discomfort, although we recommend taking some time off if you can as you may experience some bruising and swelling around the injection sites. Likewise, you’ll have some tenderness around the donor area and will need to wear compression bandages. 


Pros: Longevity of treatment, ability to extract as much fat as needed at no extra cost.


Cons: More invasive than using synthetic filler, more downtime required.


Lip lift surgery


A lip lift is a surgical alternative to lip fillers, carried out to change the shape of the upper lip rather than add volume to it. The surgery removes a section of tissue from beneath the nose. Shortening the distance between the nose and lip increases the amount of ‘red’ on show and improves the appearance of a thin upper lip. 


Because ligaments loosen and weaken as we age, lips droop and fall down to cover the upper teeth which can make the mouth appear older. The ideal distance between the top lip and nose in the classically proportioned adult female face is 11 to 13 millimetres, however, that distance elongates by one to three millimetres every decade as we get older. 


Lip lift surgery moves the lip into a more youthful position and exposes a little bit of the teeth. It can be carried out in less than an hour, and is performed under local anaesthesia, with the scar hidden beneath the nose. It is not a painful procedure but some downtime is required because the upper lip will be swollen during the first week. The results are permanent, however, your lips and overall face will continue to mature. 


Pros: Simple surgery, provides permanent results.


Cons: Only addresses the upper lip.


Combined lip treatments


While all of the above lip treatments have their own pros and cons, sometimes we can maximise the benefits by combining procedures together. For example, to totally rejuvenate your pout, you may need the distance between your nose and upper lip reduced, as well as volume added to your lips. Your surgeon will be able to advise on the right combination of treatments to achieve your aesthetic goals.


Not sure which lip treatment is best for you? Get a facial assessment with a surgeon. Contact Ocean Clinic for an appointment - either in-person at one of our clinics or online via Skype/Zoom. 


Thursday 21 October 2021

Is it Time for a 'Daddy Do-Over?'

You’ve probably heard of the ‘mummy makeover’? Well, men are increasingly getting in on the act too. A ‘daddy do-over’ is a suite of treatments especially for men in their forties and fifties, designed to make them look and feel 10 years younger. 



The treatments that make up a daddy do-over vary depending on the needs of the patient but generally include both surgical and nonsurgical procedures. Below we’ll look at some of the most common…


Liposuction


Liposuction is a great treatment for so-called ‘dad bods’, letting you target those stubborn pockets of fat that appear as you get older. It can be used to get rid of fat deposits on the abdomen and those around the waist and back, known as love handles. Some men also store fat on the chest, giving the appearance of ‘man boobs’ - these can also be easily tackled with lipo.  


At Ocean Clinic, we don’t just remove the excess fat, we also sculpt the body during liposuction. Through body contouring, we aim to expose your natural muscle structure underneath and give you an overall more toned-looking body. This means you’ll feel more confident to take your top off, but also feel better in your clothes and be able to wear more form-fitting shirts. 



Eye bag surgery


If you’ve got young kids, you’re likely to be short on sleep. You can often spot parents from the dark circles and bags under their eyes. But bags don’t only appear as a result of being tired; natural ageing can also cause pouchy pockets of fat around the eye. 


Whatever your bags are caused by, if you’ve got them, they’re probably making you look older than you should do. Lower blepharoplasty is a surgery to remove the excess fat protruding beneath your eyes and tighten the skin. The incisions are hidden in the lash line. If you also have sagging eyelids, these can be treated with an upper blepharoplasty. These procedures can have a dramatic effect on your face, making you look refreshed and youthful. 



Cosmetic Facial Injections


The demands of work and family can take their toll on the face. Perhaps you now see crow’s feet and a furrowed forehead when you take selfies with your kids? If you don’t like what you see, cosmetic injections is the answer. These can be used to smooth out wrinkles around the eyes, between your eyebrows and on your forehead.


Facial injections make you look younger almost instantly and last for several months. You’ll still have a full range of facial movement so no one will be able to tell you’ve had them. Lots of men now get injections to look fresher and more rested. Combined with eye bag surgery, the impact on the face can be huge. 


Micro fat transfer


One of the great things about a daddy do-over is that combining procedures offers several benefits. It not only lets you save money when compared to having the treatments separately (and have just one period of downtime), but it’s also an opportunity to get more value for money. That’s because the unwanted fat you have removed via liposuction can be put to use elsewhere.


During the same operation, the fat can be transplanted to your face to replace lost volume. Men typically lose volume from their temples and cheeks as they age and this can lead to a face that looks hollowed out. Using a specialised technique called micro fat transfer, small droplets of fat are injected to rejuvenate your face. Fat can also be placed around your jawline to give you a more defined and masculine outline. 



Are you a good candidate for a daddy do-over?


You don’t actually have to be a dad to get a daddy do-over! Any man who feels that age and life is starting to take its toll on their appearance and wants a confidence boost is a great candidate. You can achieve really impressive results with the right combination of surgical and nonsurgical procedures - and at a price that offers great value for money. Why not book a consultation with a plastic surgeon and see what combination of treatments would make the biggest difference for you?  


​​Book an online video consultation or visit one of our clinics in Marbella, Madrid or Zurich.